Light-generating wheel for an in-line skate

ABSTRACT

A light-generating wheel for an in-line skate includes two side shells and an electric board sandwiched between the two side shells. The electric board has a plurality of light emitters protruding out of one of said two side shells to light on and off, i.e. to flash while the wheel is rotated in skating on the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a light-generating wheel For an in-line skate,particularly that having a plurality of light emitters to flash whilethe wheel is rotated during the skate running on the ground in skating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to offer a light-generatingwheel to be combined with an in-line skate, which has a plurality oflight emitters to flash when it is rotated in skating with the in-lineskate provided with this wheel.

The main feature of the present invention is an electric boardsandwiched between two side shells forming this wheel. The electricboard has a plurality of light emitters fixed around on one of its roundsurface and protruding out of one of the two side shells, and a batterydeposited in battery chamber of the electric board to furnish power forthe emitters, and a vibrate switch is used to turn on and off the powerof the battery while the wheel is rotated in skating with the in-lineskate so that the light emitters may flash on and off by the switch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a light-generating wheel foran in-line skate in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a light-generating wheel for anin-line skate in the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of positioning plates for fixing thelight-generating wheel on an in-line skate in the present invention;and,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the light-generating wheels fixed on anin-line skate by means of the position plates in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A light-generating wheel 1 for an in-line skate in the presentinvention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes two side shells 2 and 3,and an electric board 3 sandwiched between the two side shells 2 and 3.

The two side--one right and the other left--shells 2 and 3 are of thesame shape and a symmetrical structure, respectively having a centerhole 21, 31, a larger diameter annular groove 22, 32 than the centerhole 21, 31 provided around the center hole 21, 31 for a bearing 6 tofit therein. The right side shell 2 has an inside annularcircumferential protruding surface 23, and the eft side shell 3 has aninside annular circumferential recessed surface 33 to fit together withthe annular protruding surface 23 of the right side shell 2 so that thetwo side shells 2 and 3 may be combined firmly together. In addition,the two side shells 2 and 3 respectively have an inside annular hollowspace 24, 34 for depositing the electric board 4 therein.

The electric board 4 has a center hole, a plurality of light emitters 41fixed around on an outer annular portion of the board 4 and protrudingout through the holes 25 the right side shell 2, a battery 43 fitted ina battery chamber 44 attached downward on the board 4, and an insulatingslip 45 provided to be interposed between the battery 43 and the inputterminal of the electric board 4 and to extend out of a through hole 35in an inside edge of the hollow space 34 of the left side shell 3.

The right side shell 2 especially has a plurality of small holes 25through the intermediate annular portion for the light emitters 41 toprotrude through the outer surface of the shell 2.

In assembling the light-generating wheel 1 for an in-line skate, aplurality of fusible points 36 are attached in advance on the insideannular circumferential surface of the left side shell 3 so that thefusible points 36 are fused to bond together the left side shell 3 withthe right side shell 2 by means of a supersonic process after the twoside shells 2 and 3 are put together. Then the fused-together two sideshells 2, 3 are formed with a layer 5 of PU (polyurethane) foam on thecircumference by means of a plastic injecting process for firmly keepingthe two shells together.

Referring to FIG. 3, in assembling the light-generating wheel 1 with thein-line skate, the two bearings 6, 6 are to be firstly fitted in theannular grooves 22, 32 of the two side shells 2 and 3, and two positionplates 7, 7 of L-shaped cross-section are provided to be placeddiametrically at both sides of the wheel 1. Then, the wheel 1 togetherwith the two position plates 7, 7 is pushed inside an invertedchannel-shaped elongate bottom plate 8 of the skate, and then heldfirmly together with the plate 8 by means of a bolt and nut 81 passingthrough the elongate plate 8, the position plates 7, 7 and the bearings6, 6 and the wheel 1. After a plurality of the wheels 1 are assembled ina line with the skate, then the in-line skate with light-generatingwheels is finished, ready for use.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, when the in-line skate with thelight-generating wheels is used for skating, the insulating slip 45 hasto be pulled out to let the battery 43 and the input terminal of theelectric board 4 contact with each other. When the wheels 1 roll on theground with the skate running, a vibrating switch 42 provided on theelectric board 4 turns on and off the power of the battery 43 to let thelight emitters 41 to flash on and off. If the wheels 1 are stopped, withthe vibrate switch 42 being not vibrated, the circuit of the electricboard 4 is cut off, and accordingly the light emitters 41 are notpowered To light on and off. Then the power is economized.

From the above description, it may be understood that thislight-generating wheel for an in-line skate has the followingadvantages.

1. It flashes with the vibrate switch vibrated when the skate with it iscoasted along on the ground, giving a warning to passers-by forpreventing mutual collision, especially during nights.

2. The insulating slip interposted between the battery and the electricboard can prevent the battery from consumed until it is used. And thevibrate switch can also turn off the power of the battery if the switchis not vibrated, saving the power of the battery.

3. During skating the light emitters are turned on and off, increasingvisual pleasure.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover allsuch modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light generating wheel for an in-line skatecomprising:a right side shell and a left side shell, each of said sideshells having a center hole formed therein and an annular groove formedaround said center hole, said annular groove having a diameter largerthan a diameter of said center hole, said annular groove being providedfor the retention of a bearing therein, said right side shell having acircumferential protruding edge surface formed about a perimeterthereof, said left side shell having a circumferential recessed edgesurface formed about a perimeter thereof for mating with said right sideshell and forming an interior space therebetween; and an electric boardpositioned within said interior space and sandwiched firmly between saidleft and right side shells, said electric board having a plurality oflight emitters secured into positions near a circumferential edge ofsaid board, said emitters protruding through respective holes formed inone of said side shells and being turned on and off during skating. 2.The light-generating wheel for an in-line skate as claimed in claim 1,wherein one of said two side shells has a plurality of little fusingpoints on an internal circumferential surface, said fusing points beingfused by means of a supersonic process to bond firmly together said twoside shells, said fused-together side shells having a layer of PU foamformed on an external circumferential surface by means of a plasticinjecting process.
 3. The light-generating wheel for an in-line skate asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said electric board has a battery chamberfor depositing a battery therein, with an insulating slip beinginterposed in advance between said battery and the input terminal ofsaid electric board, said insulating slip being removed by the user fromsaid interposing position between said battery and said input terminalto permit the power of said battery to energize the circuit of saidelectric board.